US3097190A - Nu, nu, nu', nu'-tetraalkyl alkylene diamine initiators for the polymerization of formaldehyde - Google Patents
Nu, nu, nu', nu'-tetraalkyl alkylene diamine initiators for the polymerization of formaldehyde Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3097190A US3097190A US88008A US8800861A US3097190A US 3097190 A US3097190 A US 3097190A US 88008 A US88008 A US 88008A US 8800861 A US8800861 A US 8800861A US 3097190 A US3097190 A US 3097190A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- formaldehyde
- polymerization
- weight
- diamine
- tetraalkyl
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- WSFSSNUMVMOOMR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Formaldehyde Chemical compound O=C WSFSSNUMVMOOMR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims description 102
- 239000003999 initiator Substances 0.000 title claims 2
- 238000006116 polymerization reaction Methods 0.000 title description 16
- 125000005263 alkylenediamine group Chemical group 0.000 title description 9
- KWYHDKDOAIKMQN-UHFFFAOYSA-N N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine Chemical compound CN(C)CCN(C)C KWYHDKDOAIKMQN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 18
- 239000003505 polymerization initiator Substances 0.000 claims description 18
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 17
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 15
- 150000004985 diamines Chemical class 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 229920006324 polyoxymethylene Polymers 0.000 description 15
- 229930040373 Paraformaldehyde Natural products 0.000 description 13
- 125000004432 carbon atom Chemical group C* 0.000 description 12
- -1 polyoxymethylene Polymers 0.000 description 12
- 239000012429 reaction media Substances 0.000 description 9
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- XDTMQSROBMDMFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Cyclohexane Chemical compound C1CCCCC1 XDTMQSROBMDMFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 5
- 125000001931 aliphatic group Chemical group 0.000 description 4
- 125000000217 alkyl group Chemical group 0.000 description 4
- 125000002947 alkylene group Chemical group 0.000 description 4
- 239000003963 antioxidant agent Substances 0.000 description 4
- 235000006708 antioxidants Nutrition 0.000 description 4
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 description 4
- 150000002430 hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 description 4
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000011541 reaction mixture Substances 0.000 description 4
- WJFKNYWRSNBZNX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 10H-phenothiazine Chemical compound C1=CC=C2NC3=CC=CC=C3SC2=C1 WJFKNYWRSNBZNX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- UHOVQNZJYSORNB-UHFFFAOYSA-N Benzene Chemical compound C1=CC=CC=C1 UHOVQNZJYSORNB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 230000003078 antioxidant effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- VLKZOEOYAKHREP-UHFFFAOYSA-N n-Hexane Chemical compound CCCCCC VLKZOEOYAKHREP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 229950000688 phenothiazine Drugs 0.000 description 3
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 3
- AXFVIWBTKYFOCY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 1-n,1-n,3-n,3-n-tetramethylbutane-1,3-diamine Chemical group CN(C)C(C)CCN(C)C AXFVIWBTKYFOCY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000004215 Carbon black (E152) Substances 0.000 description 2
- ATUOYWHBWRKTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Propane Chemical compound CCC ATUOYWHBWRKTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- NNBZCPXTIHJBJL-UHFFFAOYSA-N decalin Chemical compound C1CCCC2CCCCC21 NNBZCPXTIHJBJL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- DIOQZVSQGTUSAI-UHFFFAOYSA-N decane Chemical compound CCCCCCCCCC DIOQZVSQGTUSAI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- DMBHHRLKUKUOEG-UHFFFAOYSA-N diphenylamine Chemical compound C=1C=CC=CC=1NC1=CC=CC=C1 DMBHHRLKUKUOEG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000011261 inert gas Substances 0.000 description 2
- WSFSSNUMVMOOMR-NJFSPNSNSA-N methanone Chemical compound O=[14CH2] WSFSSNUMVMOOMR-NJFSPNSNSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000000178 monomer Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000012299 nitrogen atmosphere Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000001590 oxidative effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000000197 pyrolysis Methods 0.000 description 2
- XFNJVJPLKCPIBV-UHFFFAOYSA-N trimethylenediamine Chemical compound NCCCN XFNJVJPLKCPIBV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- YHMYGUUIMTVXNW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 1,3-dihydrobenzimidazole-2-thione Chemical compound C1=CC=C2NC(S)=NC2=C1 YHMYGUUIMTVXNW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- CTQNGGLPUBDAKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N O-Xylene Chemical compound CC1=CC=CC=C1C CTQNGGLPUBDAKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000005662 Paraffin oil Substances 0.000 description 1
- RBFQJDQYXXHULB-UHFFFAOYSA-N arsane Chemical class [AsH3] RBFQJDQYXXHULB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000001273 butane Substances 0.000 description 1
- RGTXVXDNHPWPHH-UHFFFAOYSA-N butane-1,3-diamine Chemical compound CC(N)CCN RGTXVXDNHPWPHH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 150000008280 chlorinated hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000748 compression moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- HPXRVTGHNJAIIH-UHFFFAOYSA-N cyclohexanol Chemical compound OC1CCCCC1 HPXRVTGHNJAIIH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000006185 dispersion Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000002170 ethers Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000001125 extrusion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- NAQMVNRVTILPCV-UHFFFAOYSA-N hexane-1,6-diamine Chemical compound NCCCCCCN NAQMVNRVTILPCV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229920006158 high molecular weight polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000001746 injection moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- FQELQRCSRAWQAB-UHFFFAOYSA-N n,n,n',n'-tetrapropylpropane-1,3-diamine Chemical compound CCCN(CCC)CCCN(CCC)CCC FQELQRCSRAWQAB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- TVMXDCGIABBOFY-UHFFFAOYSA-N octane Chemical compound CCCCCCCC TVMXDCGIABBOFY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229920002866 paraformaldehyde Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 150000003003 phosphines Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000001294 propane Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007858 starting material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000001629 stilbenes Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 235000021286 stilbenes Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010408 sweeping Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012808 vapor phase Substances 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000008096 xylene Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
- C08G—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS
- C08G2/00—Addition polymers of aldehydes or cyclic oligomers thereof or of ketones; Addition copolymers thereof with less than 50 molar percent of other substances
- C08G2/06—Catalysts
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
- C08G—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS
- C08G2/00—Addition polymers of aldehydes or cyclic oligomers thereof or of ketones; Addition copolymers thereof with less than 50 molar percent of other substances
- C08G2/08—Polymerisation of formaldehyde
Definitions
- This invention relates to a process for the preparation of tough, high molecular weight polymers of formaldehyde. More particularly it relates to the use of certain diamines as polymerization initiators in the preparation of these polymers of formaldehyde.
- formaldehyde can be polymerized in the presence of such polymerization initiators as metal salts, phosphines, arsines, stilbenes, and certain monoarnines to form tough, high molecular weight polyoxymethylene which can be used in the preparation of films, fibers, filaments, and molding compounds. It has now been found that another class of compounds can he used in the preparation of these formaldehyde polymers.
- anhydrous monomeric formaldehyde is contacted with the novel polymerization initiator and allowed to polymerize to high molecular Weight polyoxymethylene.
- the novel polymerization initiators that are employed in this process are N,N,N,N'-tetraalkyl alkylene diamines.
- the alkyl groups which may be identical or different groups, are straight-chain or branched-chain groups which contain from i to 4 carbon atoms and preferably 1 or 2 carbon atoms.
- the alkylene groups are straight-chain or branched-chain divalent saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon groups containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
- N,N,N',N-tetramethyl methylene diamine N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl ethylene diamine, N,N, N,N'-tetraethyl ethylene diamine, N,N,N,N-tetrarnethyl 1,3-propane diamine, N,N,N',N'-tetrapropyl 1,3-propane diamine, N,N,N,N'-tetramethyl 1,3-butane diamine, N, N,N',N'-tetraethyl 1,4-butane diarnine, N,N,N,N'-tetramethyl 1,6-hexane diamine, and N,N,N,N'-tetraethyl 1,6- hexane diamine.
- a single tetraalkyl alkylene diamine or a mixture of two or more of these diamines may be
- the amount of the initator that is used is generally between about 0.00001 part and 0.05 part and preferably between about 0.0001 part and about 0.005 part by weight per part by weight of formaldehyde.
- the polymerization reaction may be effected in the presence or in the absence of a liquid reaction medium or in a vapor phase reaction.
- the polymerization is preferably carried out in a substantially anhydrous organic medium which remains liquid under the conditions chosen for the reaction, which is inert to formaldehyde and to the polymerization intiator, and which is a non-solvent for polyoxymethylene.
- Suitable reaction media include hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons, ethers, and the The preferred media are the hydrocarbons which contain from 3 to 10 carbon atoms, such as propane, hexane, octane, decane, cyclohexane, benzene, xylene, and decahydronaphthalene.
- the amount of the reaction medium used is not critical but may be within the range of about 1 to 1000 parts by weight per part by weight of formaldehyde. In most cases about 1 to 150 parts by weight of the medium is used for each part of formaldehyde.
- the polymerization may be carried out in any convenient manner.
- anhydrous monomeric formaldehyde may be introduced into a reactor containing a reaction medium and the polymerization initiator.
- the polymerization may be carried out by 3,097,190 Patented July 9, 1963 "ice introducing formaldehyde continuously into a reactor containing the reaction medium and at the same time adding the polymerization initiator at such a rate that the temperature is maintained within the range chosen for the polymerization.
- the conditions under which the formaldehyde is polymerized are not critical.
- the polymerization is generally carried out at a temperature between about 100 C. and C. and preferably between 0 C. and 40 C. While superatmospheric and subatmospheric pressures may be employed, the reaction is in most cases carried out under atmospheric pressure.
- the formaldehyde monomer that is used as the starting material in this process may be derived from any convenient source. For example, it may be obtained by pyrolysis of paraformaldehyde, a-polyoxymethylene, or a hemiformal such as cyclohexanol hemiformal. In order to obtain the desired tough, high molecular weight product, it is necessary that the formaldehyde monomer be substantially anhydrous, that is, that it contain less than 0.5% and preferably less than 0.1% by weight of water.
- tough, high molecular weight polyoxymethylene is best effected under non-oxidizing conditions.
- a convenient way of obtaining such conditions involves sweeping the reactor with a dry inert gas, such as nitrogen, and then carrying out the reaction under a blanket of the inert gas.
- a dry inert gas such as nitrogen
- an antioxidant may be present during the reaction or may be added to the product to reduce oxidative eliects.
- anti-oxidants that may be used for this purpose are phenothiazine, 2-mercaptobenzimidazole, diphenylamine, phenyl-a-naphthylamine, bis fl-naphthylamino -p-phenylenediamine, and S-ethyl- 10, 10-diphenyl-phenozasiline.
- the amount of antioxidant used is generally about 0.01% to about 1% based on the weight of the formaldehyde.
- Example 1 Anhydrous monomeric formaldehyde was prepared by heating a suspension of grams of ot-polyoxymethylene in 400 ml. of paraffin oil at l21l50 C. The formaldehyde vapors from this pyrolysis were passed through a series of traps, the first of which was maintained at room temperature, the second at 0 C., and the third and fourth at 15 to -20 C. The resulting anhydrous monomeric formaldehyde was introduced along with a stream of dry nitrogen in to a polymerization reactor which contained 1500 ml. of cyclohexane, 0.1 gram of N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl ethylene diamine, and 0.1 gram of phenothiazine.
- the reaction mixture was stirred vigorously during the addition of the formaldehyde.
- the polymerization was carried out at 25 -30 C. in a nitrogen atmosphere for approximately 2 hours.
- the reaction mixture was filtered.
- the product was washed with 300ml. of cyclohexane and dried under vacuum at 65 C. to constant weight.
- the dried product weighed 61.5 grams. This product may be compression molded, for example, at 180 C. for 2 minutes, to produce tough molded objects.
- Example 2 Anhydrous monomeric formaldehyde was prepared from 100 grams of a-polyoxymethylene by the procedure described in Example 1. This formaldehyde was then introduced along with a stream of dry nitrogen into a polymerization reactor which contained 1500 ml. of cyclohexane, 0.1 gram of N,N,N,N-tetramethy1 1,3-butanediamine, and 0.1 gram of phenothiazine. The reaction mixture was stirred vigorously during the addition of the formaldehyde. The polymerization was carried out at 25-30 C. in a nitrogen atmosphere for approximately 2 hours. When the polymerization was complete, the reaction mixture was filtered. The product was washed with 300 ml. of cyclohexane and dried under vacuum at 65 C. to constant weight. The dried product, which weighed 51.0 grams, was a high molecular weight polyoxymethylene which could be molded to form tough translucent films.
- N,N,N',N-tetraalkyl alkylene diamines that have been disclosed herein may be employed in a similar manner to initiate the polymerization of formaldehyde to form tough, high molecular weight polyoxymethylene.
- Formaldehyde polymer prepared in accordance with this invention may be converted by melt extrusion, injection molding, compression molding and other fabrication methods to films, fibers, molded articles, and the like.
- a process for the production of high molecular weight polyoxymethylene which comprises contacting substantially anhydrous monomeric formaldehyde at a temperature in the range of approximately 100 C. to 80 C. with a polymerization initiator which is an N,N,N',N-tetraalkyl alkylene diamine, said polymerization initiator being present in the amount of 0.00001 part to 0.05 part by weight per part by weight of said formaldehyde.
- polymerization initiator is an N,N,N',N-tetraalkyl alkylene diamine in which each of the alkyl groups contains from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and the alkylene group is a divalent saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group that contains from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
- the process for the production of high molecular weight polyoxymethylene which comprises introducing substantially anhydrous monomeric formaldehyde into a liquid hydrocarbon having 3 to 10 carbon atoms per molecule in the presence of an N,N,N',N-tetraalkyl alkylene diamine, each of the alkyl groups of said diamine containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and the alkylene group being a divalent saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms said N,N, N',N-tetraalkyl alkylene diamine being present in the amount of about 0.00001 part to 0.05 part by weight per part by weight of said formaldehyde, at a temperature of C. to 80 C., and recovering high molecular weight polyoxymethylene.
- the process for the production of high molecular weight polyoxymethylene which comprises introducing substantially anhydrous monomeric formaldehyde into a reaction medium maintained at 0 C. to 40 C., said reaction medium comprising a liquid hydrocarbon having 3 to 10 carbon atoms per molecule, an antioxidant, and a polymerization initiator, said polymerization initiator being an N,N,N,N'-tetraalkyl alkylene diamine in which each of the alkyl groups contains from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and the alkylene group is a divalent saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group that contains from 1 to 6 carbon atoms said polymerization initiator being present in the amount of about 0.00001 part to 0.05 part by weight per part by weight of said formaldehyde, agitating said reaction medium and forming a dispersion of high molecular weight polyoxymethylene in said medium, and thereafter recovering the polyoxymethylene.
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
- Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Polyoxymethylene Polymers And Polymers With Carbon-To-Carbon Bonds (AREA)
Description
i like.
United States Patent 3,097,190 N,N,N',N' TETRAALKYL ALKYLENE DIAMINE INITIA'IORS FOR THE POLYMERIZATION 0F FORMALDEHYDE Henri Sidi, Paramus, and Roy T. Gottesman, Glen Rock,
N.J., assignors to Hayden Newport Chemical Corporation, New York, N .Y., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Filed Feb. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 88,008 9 Claims. (Cl. 260-67) This invention relates to a process for the preparation of tough, high molecular weight polymers of formaldehyde. More particularly it relates to the use of certain diamines as polymerization initiators in the preparation of these polymers of formaldehyde.
It is known that formaldehyde can be polymerized in the presence of such polymerization initiators as metal salts, phosphines, arsines, stilbenes, and certain monoarnines to form tough, high molecular weight polyoxymethylene which can be used in the preparation of films, fibers, filaments, and molding compounds. It has now been found that another class of compounds can he used in the preparation of these formaldehyde polymers.
In accordance with the present invention, anhydrous monomeric formaldehyde is contacted with the novel polymerization initiator and allowed to polymerize to high molecular Weight polyoxymethylene.
The novel polymerization initiators that are employed in this process are N,N,N,N'-tetraalkyl alkylene diamines. The alkyl groups, which may be identical or different groups, are straight-chain or branched-chain groups which contain from i to 4 carbon atoms and preferably 1 or 2 carbon atoms. The alkylene groups are straight-chain or branched-chain divalent saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon groups containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Among the specific compounds that may be used in the practice of this invention are N,N,N',N-tetramethyl methylene diamine, N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl ethylene diamine, N,N, N,N'-tetraethyl ethylene diamine, N,N,N,N-tetrarnethyl 1,3-propane diamine, N,N,N',N'-tetrapropyl 1,3-propane diamine, N,N,N,N'-tetramethyl 1,3-butane diamine, N, N,N',N'-tetraethyl 1,4-butane diarnine, N,N,N,N'-tetramethyl 1,6-hexane diamine, and N,N,N,N'-tetraethyl 1,6- hexane diamine. A single tetraalkyl alkylene diamine or a mixture of two or more of these diamines may be used.
The amount of the initator that is used is generally between about 0.00001 part and 0.05 part and preferably between about 0.0001 part and about 0.005 part by weight per part by weight of formaldehyde.
The polymerization reaction may be effected in the presence or in the absence of a liquid reaction medium or in a vapor phase reaction. The polymerization is preferably carried out in a substantially anhydrous organic medium which remains liquid under the conditions chosen for the reaction, which is inert to formaldehyde and to the polymerization intiator, and which is a non-solvent for polyoxymethylene. Suitable reaction media include hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons, ethers, and the The preferred media are the hydrocarbons which contain from 3 to 10 carbon atoms, such as propane, hexane, octane, decane, cyclohexane, benzene, xylene, and decahydronaphthalene.
The amount of the reaction medium used is not critical but may be within the range of about 1 to 1000 parts by weight per part by weight of formaldehyde. In most cases about 1 to 150 parts by weight of the medium is used for each part of formaldehyde.
The polymerization may be carried out in any convenient manner. For example, anhydrous monomeric formaldehyde may be introduced into a reactor containing a reaction medium and the polymerization initiator. Alternatively, the polymerization may be carried out by 3,097,190 Patented July 9, 1963 "ice introducing formaldehyde continuously into a reactor containing the reaction medium and at the same time adding the polymerization initiator at such a rate that the temperature is maintained within the range chosen for the polymerization.
The conditions under which the formaldehyde is polymerized are not critical. The polymerization is generally carried out at a temperature between about 100 C. and C. and preferably between 0 C. and 40 C. While superatmospheric and subatmospheric pressures may be employed, the reaction is in most cases carried out under atmospheric pressure.
The formaldehyde monomer that is used as the starting material in this process may be derived from any convenient source. For example, it may be obtained by pyrolysis of paraformaldehyde, a-polyoxymethylene, or a hemiformal such as cyclohexanol hemiformal. In order to obtain the desired tough, high molecular weight product, it is necessary that the formaldehyde monomer be substantially anhydrous, that is, that it contain less than 0.5% and preferably less than 0.1% by weight of water.
The formation of tough, high molecular weight polyoxymethylene is best effected under non-oxidizing conditions. A convenient way of obtaining such conditions involves sweeping the reactor with a dry inert gas, such as nitrogen, and then carrying out the reaction under a blanket of the inert gas. In addition an antioxidant may be present during the reaction or may be added to the product to reduce oxidative eliects. Among the anti-oxidants that may be used for this purpose are phenothiazine, 2-mercaptobenzimidazole, diphenylamine, phenyl-a-naphthylamine, bis fl-naphthylamino -p-phenylenediamine, and S-ethyl- 10, 10-diphenyl-phenozasiline. The amount of antioxidant used is generally about 0.01% to about 1% based on the weight of the formaldehyde.
The following examples will illustrate the manner in which this invention may be practiced. It is to be understood, however, that these examples are not to be com strued as being limitative but are furnished merely for purposes of illustration.
Example 1 Anhydrous monomeric formaldehyde was prepared by heating a suspension of grams of ot-polyoxymethylene in 400 ml. of paraffin oil at l21l50 C. The formaldehyde vapors from this pyrolysis were passed through a series of traps, the first of which was maintained at room temperature, the second at 0 C., and the third and fourth at 15 to -20 C. The resulting anhydrous monomeric formaldehyde was introduced along with a stream of dry nitrogen in to a polymerization reactor which contained 1500 ml. of cyclohexane, 0.1 gram of N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl ethylene diamine, and 0.1 gram of phenothiazine. The reaction mixture was stirred vigorously during the addition of the formaldehyde. The polymerization was carried out at 25 -30 C. in a nitrogen atmosphere for approximately 2 hours. When the polymerization was complete, the reaction mixture was filtered. The product was washed with 300ml. of cyclohexane and dried under vacuum at 65 C. to constant weight. The dried product weighed 61.5 grams. This product may be compression molded, for example, at 180 C. for 2 minutes, to produce tough molded objects.
Example 2 Anhydrous monomeric formaldehyde was prepared from 100 grams of a-polyoxymethylene by the procedure described in Example 1. This formaldehyde was then introduced along with a stream of dry nitrogen into a polymerization reactor which contained 1500 ml. of cyclohexane, 0.1 gram of N,N,N,N-tetramethy1 1,3-butanediamine, and 0.1 gram of phenothiazine. The reaction mixture was stirred vigorously during the addition of the formaldehyde. The polymerization was carried out at 25-30 C. in a nitrogen atmosphere for approximately 2 hours. When the polymerization was complete, the reaction mixture was filtered. The product was washed with 300 ml. of cyclohexane and dried under vacuum at 65 C. to constant weight. The dried product, which weighed 51.0 grams, was a high molecular weight polyoxymethylene which could be molded to form tough translucent films.
Each of the other N,N,N',N-tetraalkyl alkylene diamines that have been disclosed herein may be employed in a similar manner to initiate the polymerization of formaldehyde to form tough, high molecular weight polyoxymethylene.
Formaldehyde polymer prepared in accordance with this invention may be converted by melt extrusion, injection molding, compression molding and other fabrication methods to films, fibers, molded articles, and the like.
We claim:
1. A process for the production of high molecular weight polyoxymethylene which comprises contacting substantially anhydrous monomeric formaldehyde at a temperature in the range of approximately 100 C. to 80 C. with a polymerization initiator which is an N,N,N',N-tetraalkyl alkylene diamine, said polymerization initiator being present in the amount of 0.00001 part to 0.05 part by weight per part by weight of said formaldehyde.
2. The process of claim 1 wherein the polymerization initiator is an N,N,N',N-tetraalkyl alkylene diamine in which each of the alkyl groups contains from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and the alkylene group is a divalent saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group that contains from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
3. The process of claim 1 wherein the polymerization initiator is N,N,N,N-tetramethyl ethylene diamine.
4. The process of claim 1 wherein the polymerization initiator is N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl 1,3-butane diamine.
5. The process for the production of high molecular weight polyoxymethylene which comprises introducing substantially anhydrous monomeric formaldehyde into a liquid hydrocarbon having 3 to 10 carbon atoms per molecule in the presence of an N,N,N',N-tetraalkyl alkylene diamine, each of the alkyl groups of said diamine containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and the alkylene group being a divalent saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms said N,N, N',N-tetraalkyl alkylene diamine being present in the amount of about 0.00001 part to 0.05 part by weight per part by weight of said formaldehyde, at a temperature of C. to 80 C., and recovering high molecular weight polyoxymethylene.
6. The process for the production of high molecular weight polyoxymethylene which comprises introducing substantially anhydrous monomeric formaldehyde into a reaction medium maintained at 0 C. to 40 C., said reaction medium comprising a liquid hydrocarbon having 3 to 10 carbon atoms per molecule, an antioxidant, and a polymerization initiator, said polymerization initiator being an N,N,N,N'-tetraalkyl alkylene diamine in which each of the alkyl groups contains from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and the alkylene group is a divalent saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group that contains from 1 to 6 carbon atoms said polymerization initiator being present in the amount of about 0.00001 part to 0.05 part by weight per part by weight of said formaldehyde, agitating said reaction medium and forming a dispersion of high molecular weight polyoxymethylene in said medium, and thereafter recovering the polyoxymethylene.
7. The process of claim 6 wherein the polymerization initiator is N,N,N',N-tetramethyl ethylene diamine.
8. The process of claim 6 wherein the polymerization initiator is N,N,N,N-tetramethyl 1,3-butane diamine.
9. The process of claim 6 wherein the polymerization initiator is present in the amount of about 0.0001 part to 0.005 part by weight per part by weight of formaldehyde and the reaction medium is present in the amount of 1 part to parts by Weight per part by weight of formaldehyde.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,841,570 MacDonald July 1, 1958
Claims (1)
1. A PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT POLYOXMETHYLENE WHICH COMPRISES CONTACTING SUBSTANTIALLY ANHYDROUS MONOMERIC FORMALDEHYDE AT A TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF APPROXIMATELY -100*C. TO 80*C. WITH A PLYMERIZATION INITIATOR WHICH IS AN N,N,N,N''-TETRAALKYL ALKYLENE DIAMINE, SAID POLYMERIZATION INITIATOR BEING PRESENT IN THE AMOUNT OF 0.00001 PART TO 0.05 PART BY WEIGHT PER PART BY WEIGHT OF SAID FORMALDEHYDE.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US88008A US3097190A (en) | 1961-02-09 | 1961-02-09 | Nu, nu, nu', nu'-tetraalkyl alkylene diamine initiators for the polymerization of formaldehyde |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US88008A US3097190A (en) | 1961-02-09 | 1961-02-09 | Nu, nu, nu', nu'-tetraalkyl alkylene diamine initiators for the polymerization of formaldehyde |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| US3097190A true US3097190A (en) | 1963-07-09 |
Family
ID=22208606
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| US88008A Expired - Lifetime US3097190A (en) | 1961-02-09 | 1961-02-09 | Nu, nu, nu', nu'-tetraalkyl alkylene diamine initiators for the polymerization of formaldehyde |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US3097190A (en) |
Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2841570A (en) * | 1953-06-30 | 1958-07-01 | Du Pont | Polymerization of formaldehyde |
-
1961
- 1961-02-09 US US88008A patent/US3097190A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2841570A (en) * | 1953-06-30 | 1958-07-01 | Du Pont | Polymerization of formaldehyde |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US2734889A (en) | Process for the polymerization of form- | |
| US2768994A (en) | Polyoxymethylenes | |
| US2799668A (en) | Novel polymers of ethylene and bicyclo (2.2.1)-2-heptenes | |
| US3272780A (en) | Copolymers of trioxane, another aldehyde having at least two carbon atoms and optionally a third comonomer | |
| US2841570A (en) | Polymerization of formaldehyde | |
| US3371076A (en) | Process of copolymerization of ethylene and alpha-olefines with fluorinated unsaturated monomers | |
| US3228917A (en) | Method of polymerizing olefins with nickel or cobalt salt-organophosphine complex and an acidic metal halide | |
| US3097190A (en) | Nu, nu, nu', nu'-tetraalkyl alkylene diamine initiators for the polymerization of formaldehyde | |
| US3317477A (en) | Process for the preparation of styreneoxymethylene copolymers and resulting product | |
| US3296210A (en) | Copolymers of trioxan with allyl esters and process for their production | |
| US3169938A (en) | Preparation of products of high molecular weight from formaldehyde by polymerizing in the presence of an inert solid | |
| US3096306A (en) | Trialkylene diamine initiators for the polymerization of formaldehyde | |
| US3344120A (en) | Trioxane-norbornadiene copolymers | |
| US3096308A (en) | Triaminophenol initiators for the polymerization of fromaldehyde | |
| US3096307A (en) | Dihydroxy diamine initiators for the polymerization of formaldehyde | |
| US3200096A (en) | Catalytic polymerization of trioxane | |
| US3288757A (en) | Process for producing polymeric products of trioxane | |
| US3329659A (en) | Isobutylene sulfide polymers | |
| US3111503A (en) | Metal chelates as initiators for the polymerization of formaldehyde | |
| US3280076A (en) | Intiators for the polymerization of formaldehyde | |
| US3272777A (en) | Method for polymerizing aldehydes | |
| US3215675A (en) | Carbonyl polymers of dialdehydes and processes for preparing the same | |
| US3351613A (en) | Copolymers having polyoxymethylenic structure and a process of preparing same | |
| US3047555A (en) | Process of making polymers of vinyl ethers | |
| US2964507A (en) | 1, 1-difluoro-2-methylene-3-difluoromethylene cyclobutane and polymers thereof |